The Forum: Legislators Looking to Aid Volunteer Firefighters, Ambulance Workers

Lawmakers in Albany are considering a set of bills that would help members of volunteer fire departments and ambulance companies save money on taxes, receive greater and improved timely benefits, and gain access to new educational opportunities.

The first of five pieces of legislation, S.1000, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), would provide for an automatic annual Cost of Living Adjustment to disability benefits received by volunteer firefighters.  In 1998, the state Legislature raised the benefit level for firefighters with permanent total disabilities to a maximum of $400 a week regardless of their date of injury; this bill seeks to address inflation and aid disabled firefighters who are struggling to live on fixed incomes.

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